Door closer and check



Aug. 9, 193%. .,x.y w. HOLMAN DCCR CLOSER AND CHECK.

Filed March 30, 1957 @Me-6' W' Hamm/v INVENTOR Patented Aug. 9, 1938 V UNITED srarss PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

Thisinventionrelates to combination door closers and checks, and aims to provide a simple mechanism which may be adapted for use on any type door, including automobile doors.

The chief object of the invention is to provide such a'device which is capable of being installed above the door head and between the two upper members of the door frame, thus rendering the working mechanism of the device invisible.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of this class which of simple yet durable design; which is provided with readily accessible `means for timing the closing of. the door; which may be easily installed or removed from its hidden position above the door; which includes a simple means for holding the door open in any desired position; which not only checks the closing of the door but closes it firmly and completely; which utilizes a coil spring with direct pull as the force for closing the door, thus eliminating the spiral torsion springs now used generally, and which break frequently; which eliminates the side tension on the door closing armV which on present door closers break freduently and add to maintenance cost; which has greater closing leverage than door closers of present design; which includes a simple means of adjusting the spring tension, the cylinder oi. which may be easily and quickly relled with fluid without the necessity of dissembling and reassembling the complete device, and without removing the device from its installed position.

Other objects of the invention will be fully understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application. The drawing is to be considered illustrativeand not restrictive.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view of. the device installed above the door head and within the two upper members of the door frame;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device in section showing the details of the piston and cylinder construction; m

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of the door closing arm showing particularly the ratchet teeth for holding the door open;

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view showing the manner of mounting the dog which contacts the ratchet teeth on the door closing arm, the dog being shown in section; and,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a door and its frame, and shows particularly the v desired point to the door frame, and

only portions of the device which are visible after the device has been installed.

Numeral 6 designates as a whole a hydraulic cylinder which is provided with a piston chamber 'l and a by-pass duct 8 and ports 9 and I0 which provide intercommunication between the chamber 'I and the duct 8 at their adjacent ends. The piston comprises a hollow body II having a large interiorly threaded bore at one end and a smaller interiorly threaded bore at the opposite end. The piston carries at its forward end a cup-leather I 2, or any other type sealing ring, held in position by a common washer I3 and by a valve nut I4 which has 4a central bore which is provided at its inner end with a valve seat. A piston rod I5 is provided with a conical end which forms a valve I 6 adapted to seat on the valve seat at the interior end of the nut M. The rod I 5 slides through a ring Il which is exteriorly threaded to fit the large bore end of the piston, and which is provided with a plurality of through ports I8. Adjacent the valve I6 the piston is provided with a pin I9 which serves to seat one end of a spring 20, the other end of which seats on the ring I l. The spring, which surrounds the inner end of the rod, thus serves to normally keep the valve i8 seated on its seat within the piston. The chamber 'I is provided with a usual bearing nut 2l which in turn is provided with a packing gland 22 and a Vpacking gland nut 23 through which the piston rod I5 is slidable. At the same end of the cylinder in alignment with the duct 8, the cylinder carries a packing gland nut 2li and gland 25 through which a valve 26 is threadedly adjustable, and which serves to alter the passage area of the port Il? and of the duct 8.

The cylinder 5 is also provided with a pivot bracket 5l) and a spring bracket 21. The bracket 26 serves to pivotally mount the cylinder at any may be located at the end of the cylinder instead of at the side as shown. The rod I5 is of any desired length depending on the width of the door. 'Ihe v rod carries on its outer end a door closing arm, designated as a whole by the numeral 28.

Referring to Figure 3, the arm 28 includes a spring bracket 29, a centrally bored body member 3l) through which the rod I5 is adjustably slidable, and is rigidly positioned with relation thereto by the set screw 3|. The arm also includes an arcuate member 32 the outer end of which is perforated for pivotal attachment to a pin 33 carried by any suitable door bracket 3Q, The arm 28 also includes an integral toothed member 35 which may extend from the body portion 30 at any desired angle, and which carries a plurality of ratchet teeth 36 on its nether surface, which teeth may be arranged parallel to each other or may be arranged in fan shaped relation as desired. A normally contracted spring 31 has one of its ends suitably secured to the bracket 21 on the cylinder, as shown in Figure 1, and has its other end suitably secured to the bracket 29 on the arm 28. The means for securing the ends of the spring to these two brackets 21 and 29 are preferably adjustable longitudinally so that the spring tension may be adjusted easily from either end of the spring. The spring serves as the door closing force and also serves to urge the piston toward the far end of the cylindergagainst the resistance of the hydraulic fluid which I contemplate using in the cylinder.

With the device installed as shown in Figure l the arcuate member 32 passes through one upper frame member 38 of the door frame through a slot 38 which for the sake of appearances is surrounded by a slotted plate member 4D, and its outer end is pivotally secured to the door 4| as previously described. rThe tension on the spring 31 is adjusted and the valve 26 is adjusted so that the speed of the door in closing is as desired.` As the door is opened the arcuate member 32 travels with it, and the entire structure pivots about the` pin 42 carried by the bracket 43. This causes thel rod I5 to slide outward from the interior of the chamber 1, the spring 26 is contracted, the valve I6 is vunseated, and the hydraulic fluid behind the piston is permitted to pass through the ports I8 andl through the central bore of the valve nut I4, as well as through the port III, the duct 8, the port 9, and into the other end of the chamber 1. When the door is released the spring 31 being `extended tends to assume its normal contracted position and causes the door to move `toward a closing position, and also causes the rod I5 to slide back into the chamber 1. I'his action reduces the tension on the spring 2D, permits the valve .I6 to seat, closing the central bore of the nut I4, and thus moves the piston toward the other endA of the cylinder. The fluid ahead of the piston is forced through the port 9, the duct 8, and the port I back into the other end of the chambery 1. With this arrangement the rpassage area afforded the hydraulic fluid is greater during the door opening travel of the'piston than during its door closing travel. VThus there is no resistance to the opening of the door, but the slower travel of the iluid during the closing` movement of the door naturally prevents the door from slamming.

It will readily be seen that the distance from the pivot point 33 perpendicular to the axis of the rod I may be increased or decreased as desired without effecting the principle of the invention. With this arrangement a rconsiderable leverage is obtained andthe closing force of the spring31 may be considerably increased over its straight pull. It may also be Yseen that the actual pivotalrnovement of the entire device around the pin 42 will be very small and thatthe device may therefore be installed in a very narrow space such as the space between,V the outer panels of an automobile door frame. While it has not been shown in the drawing, I contemplate, as a matter of conveniencemounting at least a portion of `the door head 44 on hinges at one end, so that adjustment of the valve 26 or of the yspring 31 may be easily accomplished.

l On the surface of the upright member of the door frame towhich the door is. hinged I contemplate mounting a plurality of brackets 45 and 46 through which a rod 41 is slidable vertically. On the upper end of the rod 41 is suitably secured a dog 48 which has a chisel-like upper edge as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and which upper edge is adapted to seat between any two of the ratchet teeth 36. A suitable opening must, of course, be provided through the door head 44 to permit free vertical movement of the dog 48. The teeth 36 may, of course, extend any desired -distance along the arm 28. When the door is opened the rod 41 may be pushed upward manually into contact with the teeth 36 with the door in any desired position. The release of the door at the desired point causes the chisel-like upper edge of the dog 48 to seat on the teeth 36 thus preventing any movement of the arm 28, the rod I5, or of the door 4I toward their normal positions. When it is desired to close the door a slight opening movement is sufficient to unseat the dog 48 thus permitting the dog and its rod 41 to move by gravity out of the path of travel of the teeth 36. This release naturally permits the door to close normally.

While I have described and illustrated a specic embodiment of my invention I'am aware that numerous alterations and changes may be made therein and I do not wish to be limited except by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A door closer and check comprising: a cylinder; a hollow piston having a valve seat surrounding an opening in one ofr its ends, and slidable within the cylinder; a piston rod extending within and without the cylinder, its interior end forming a valve for seating on said seat; a coil spring within the piston normally urging said valve to remain seated; through ports in the otherV end of the piston; a bypassl affording communication between opposite `ends of the cylinder around said piston; a door closing arm adjustably mounted on the exterior end of said piston rod, its point of connection to the door being offset with relation to the axis of said cylinder and piston rod; and a coil spring adjustably connected exteriorly to said cylinder and said door closing arm for urging said arm and said rod toward the far end of said cylinder.

2. In a door closer and check, the combination with a fluid cylinder, a piston and rod therefor, and means for controlling the speed at which said piston may travel from one end of said cylinder to the other, of: a door closing arm having one of its ends rigidly and adjustably secured to the exterior portion of said rod, and having its other end formed for pivotal connection to a door, and offset with relation to the axis of said rod; and an extension spring outside the cylinder for normally urging the rod andV piston toward the far end of the cylinder.

3. A device of the class described comprising: a cylinder having pivotal mounting means at one endya piston slidable in the cylinder; a rod for the piston protruding from the other end of the cylinder; spring means connected to the exterior of the cylinder and to the rod for urging the piston and rod toward the far end of the cylinder; and a door closing arm rigidly connected at one end to the piston rod and adapted to have its other end pivotally connected to a door, the door connecting end being offset with relation to the axis of said rod.

4. A door closer comprising: a cylinder having pivotal mounting meansat one end, a piston within the cylinder, a rod for reciprocating said piston extending exteriorly through the opposite otherwise closed end of said cylinder, means for controlling the speed at which fluid may travel from one side of said piston to the other side Within the cylinder; a door closing arm having one of its ends rigidly connected to said piston rod exterior of said cylinder, its free end lying at an angle to the axis of said rod, and adapted to be pivotally connected to a door; and a spring connected exteriorly to said cylinder and to said door closing arm for urging the door to a closed position and for urging said piston toward the pivoted end of said cylinder.

5. The combination with a door, a door casing, a fluid cylinder pivotally mounted at one of its ends within and hidden by the door casing, a piston for the cylinder, a rod for the piston extending exteriorly through one end of said cylinder, and adjustable means `for controlling the speed at which said piston may travel from one end of said cylinder to the other, of: a door closing arm having one of its ends rigidly secured to said rod, extending at an angle to the axis of said rod through a slot in said door casing, and having its opposite end pivotally connected to said door; and a spring connected to said cylinder and to said arm within said door casing, and adapted to urge said door toward a closed position.

6. The combination With a door, a door casing, a iiuid cylinder pivotally mounted at one of its ends `within and hidden by the door casing, a piston for the cylinder, a rod for the piston extending exteriorly through one end of said cylinder, and adjustable means for controlling the speed at which said piston may travel from one end of said cylinder tov the other, of: a door closing arm having one of its ends rigidly secured to said rod, extending at an angle to the axis of said rod through a slot in said door casing, and having its opposite end pivotally connected to said door; ratchet teeth carried by said arm; a dog movably mounted on said door casing and manually engageable with said teeth for maintaining said arm in a desired position with relation to said door casing; and a spring connected to said cylinder and to said arm within said door casing,4 and adapted to urge said door toward a closed position.

JAMES HOLMAN. 

